Tsunami

No he didn't. Newcastle could not fit Robbo, Lemon and Rene in, and as Rene was the risk with the injury, they went with the other two. Don't make stories up.

SC. Home teams only pay away team travel if the meeting is called off and they have set off. The away team submits their mileage and of course most folks know where they started out from, and not from their home track location. As Chewwie says only 4 in a team with 1 reserve, so 20 riders in total to pay for.

With the comments in the Programme saying that the club had made big losses, along with practically all other PL promotions, every possible outcome has to be considered. A lot of clubs are in trouble and it would surprise me if everyone ran next year.

I for one, as a Newcastle Diamonds supporter, agree with the playoffs system and applaud Scunny on their slim win against Somerset. The fact they won by one point doesn't make it jammy, it just shows how close the playoff system can be between two very good teams in the final. Disappointed that Newcastle, who led the league practically all year, weren't in the final and then winners, but that's the excitement that is kept to the end when it is up to every club to do the best they can. Newcastle were worst hit than anybody by losing Britain's highest rising star Richie, and then his twin with the same injuries. With the rolling averages, which I also agree with, our 8.50 man could only be replaced with someone upto about 5.50. Steve was on the rise and was starting to hit higher scores. Alas, the rules decreed he be replaced by a NL rider which was a further weakening. So the best and strongest team were penalised in both cases but still finished the league top from a team which had got stronger in the runnin to the end. That's just the rub of the green and I remember the team was was winning the EL title years ago by a mile, lost KB before the playoffs and that was their chance gone that year. Best of luck to Scunny, you did what you had to do, following this years rules to win the PL.

As others have already said Drew, Gary refused the TR withdrawal offer, and he picked Hall both as a guest and then heat 15.

Congrats to Scunny for winning the PL with their late burst in the season. I can sympathize with their fans and riders, but the Somerset management lost this title for you in a couple of ways. Best club won.

It's nice to receive all the best wishes from so many other teams in this league. I think this is where and why our league is superior to the EL. The hard work of course, was done last night and when we had 4-2's in the first two heats, the feeling changed as it we had defeated the Witches already. Poor returns from Tungate and young Taylor, was just too much to cover to try and also overcome our existing lead. So we lost two items of silverware but at least we got this one, the KO CUP final. Would have preferred the PL title but then again, a lot of teams would have liked to have the KO Cup on their mantlepiece. Massive effort from Jonny Swales and the track staff to get this one. I was told the track was frozen yesterday, so no work could have been done on it. Jonny was there at 7.00am this morning, working through the day in a desperate attempt to squeeze the remainder of the water out to make it raceable. Continuous tyre packing continued right up to the start time with concentration on the inside/mid track racing lines. Tricky but it was raceable and there was some excellent passing and racing from say Dak and Leigh L. Risager also had his moments. At the presentation of medals by Dave Wood, friend of the Diamonds and local councillor, Leigh was the gentleman he always is, praising the efforts of the Diamonds riders and the professionalism of the Newcastle Promotion during his previous visits to Brough with Arena, Newport and now Ippy. True gent is our Leigh and many thanks for your comments. The victorious Diamonds were then presented with their trophy's, and of course Mark accepted the KO Cup comp Trophy which was no stranger to us. Nice sentiments from Paul Starke who received his riders trophy, having being released by IOW today to ride for us, and then they had the poor missfortune of a rainoff at Stoke. Both Worralls joined the party and Steve said he would like to be back at Brough next year. Of course there needs to be major changes because of the financial aspect of the sport, and one can hope that all of the current PL teams come to the 2013 tapes, especially as Plymouth is possibly going NL with no new deal for change of ownership. On a lighter note, following the item on BBC Look North on young Archie Freeman, the 7 year old Diamonds mascot, SKY was in TOON to record a quite lengthy feature on him, which should be shown on SKY Sports News Channel 405 during Monday throughout the day. Good publicity for all and some stunning interviews.

Although it is grey sky, there does not seem like any major rain. about. Forecast for this afternoon was light rain which has nor appeared. I am due to go to Brough for SKY to film an piece on Young Archie at 4.30pm, so I will be in a better position to see what it's like and to hear what the feeling is. If it's definately on I won't post, but if it does get called off I will post that. My own feeling is that the meeting is ON unless we have fairly heavy rain. It's our last meeting, and like Ippy yesterday, the promotion will do everything to get this meeting on. Se ya all there.

Think he was missing in action. Nearest I got to a Snakette was the cafe.

After a long long journey down we never thought that this was really going ahead. Massive downpours in surrounding areas past Cambridge and I was waiting for the call from home to say it's OFF. Got there to find that, although it was wet, it did seem even and after a meeting with all the riders and Chris Gay, it was game on and the track staff then adding a lot of sawdust to the key areas on the track. Apparently the weather instead of being cold and dry was cold and bloody wet, especially at the crucial time of 5.00pm which had put the tie in doubt. NO proper parade except a run round the stox track and then on with the meeting. Chris, with the riders cooperation, really did knock on and the racing was almost continuous except for extra time for consecutive rides for Matt T. 4 falls by home riders, usually in scoring positions, cost them dearly and, with some determined overtaking usually around the outside 3/4 th bend and also snucking uo a tight second bend, the DIamond's started to take a grip on the meeting quite early. In heat 6, LL used the inside second bend to take Morten first lap, but then surprisingly did exactly the same mistake as Morten which resulted in a conceded home 5 - 1. Bit of a shock in heat 14 when Dak and Matt T outgated both Christian and Matt W and the meeting result was back in doubt. Stuey, with massive engine probs was omitted from the heat 15 lineup, and a strange combination of Lemo and Ned rompted to an early lead which the maintained despite the probing by an impressive Leigh L. So a win away at 42-48, well pleased with that and also the fact that the meeting even took place. Praise was lavished on the home promotion, and especially the track staff, to get the track fit and even raceable, a sterling effort. It did look at the end heat 9 that it had all been a waste of effort when a massive 2 minute hailstorm had everyone scaddling to the bars but Chris G got the riders out and the meeting was on. Like going to Ippy, nice setting, nice track, decent eateries, and a friendly crowd even if they thought that the weather was always like this in the North East so we felt at home. Yes, but only in the summer. Had a reintroduction with London Witches and also Badge from my last visit. Lovely to see you and have a crack again. Met Sue again who does such a cracking job, marshaling the live Updates Service. Talked to Mr Sackers who was stood in front of us in front of the Garden. What a nice guy, and family, and we had a good crack about speedway and the continuing links between Ipswich and the Geordie nation. Of course Bobby R was mention, it would have been rude not to. Met em1500uk for the first time, and yes you are. A thoroughly enjoyable away trip even though it was 2.00am(really 3.00) when we got home. But as Max Boyce would say "I woz there".

Weather Ok upto now. Light rain forecast this afternoon and clearing. Just the forecasters have got more right than they did yesterday at Ippy. Why do we spend so much on weather forecasting when the seaweed thing still works. They could donate some of the money spent on lesser sports like speedway.

I agree. It's not often a young rider gets the opportunity to take a place in a National final. Paul has earned it, and it would have been a bit of an injustice to have had to give the reserve place to a stranger who just happened to be available. BTW Any Diamond 5 a side players, who fancy having a game on Tuesday 30th October, get to Soccerdome, Royal Quays, North Shields. I have a pitch booked for 8 - 9.00pm and we already have a decent number of players which includes Adam and Rene. Spectators welcome, and there is is lounge within the building. Indoor Tartan type turf, so no studs but good rubbers,etc.Two teams, continuous play with subs. £56 split between all the players, so about £4 a head.

Well you would say that wouldn't you. Really hope there is is good news for all Berwick fans tonight as hinted at. Good tip to some on here. Don't try to selfdestruct the club, attack others and lose the plot on what you are supposed to be doing. There has been some good feeling on here, with useful suggestions and genuine good thoughts for Berwick's future. Disrespecting and attacking other supporters, really has no place in any recovery plan to ensure Berwick Speedway comes to the tapes next year.

Also traveling down, starting off about 1.00pm. Much appreciate weather report updates, and if there is any concern about it not being on.

You haven't got a clue.

Could be that with Paul being in a PL final, IOW might have released him as their meeting at Stoke is just a NL fixture with no affect on their title which has already been decided. Nice gesture if so and I think they could have made Paul ride at Stoke. Fill ya boots on Saturday and Sunday Paul.

Guess who does more harm to Berwick Speedway.

Great result for Scunny tonight, which puts them firmly in the driving seat for their home leg. 'Mon the Scorpions.

Yes, it was shown Abbott and good piece of advertising it was as well as introducing young Archie. It was originally planned to be filmed about a month ago but our meetings kept getting washed. It was eventually filmed on Sunday 14th I think, when I was on holiday. Archie and his Mam and Dad watched it at our house tonight, and as a result of the clip, she had a call offering him some sponsorship. Good for the club as well.

Hee hee.

Some Supporters/BSF members don't even read but you still defend them.

Yes, but not telling Manchester Paul direct is just not on.

Quite agree. The blank fixtures are usually 'Reserved' and used to fit in rainoffs. In addition, if the weather is fine, and no rainoffs, later fixtures are brought forward by agreement between the clubs to try and get a regular meeting every week. That's what wrecks fixture lists, as it is necessary to fill dates such as the Reserved ones but also the ones allocated to KOCup ties when they have been knocked out of that competition.

Yes, all two of them.

It has already been mentioned on a thread this week, that there is a UK covers manufacturer currently looking into their provision for 2013 for all tracks. There has been an item in the SS, been mentioned on here as well, and on an EL TV meeting. At the present moment it seems to be current thinking to call a meeting off before the riders have left home, to save meeting staging costs. Visibility for riders during a meeting will still cause meetings to be called off, but that is usually a minor rather than the main season for a call off. Sorry to see John going, have known him professionally since we started in 1997 and although we have had minor spats with Edinburgh from time to time, John has personally been very cooperation at crucial times, especially lending riders and fixture changes at short notice. Might add that John had a part to play in Nicki P joining us in 1998. One question for 2013, who is now going to do the seasons fixtures for the PL.